QUESTION 1/47 by Gregory Carrubba, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

The Italian ironclads, Re d'Italia and Palestro were sunk during the

Battle of Lissa on 20 July 1866. Have the wrecks of either one or both

of these vessels ever been found, and if so at what depth(s) do they

lie?

QUESTION 2/47 by John Pauly, Eden, NY, USA.

During the US invasion of the Philippines, a Japanese motor torpedo

boat (MTB) reportedly sank a US transport on or about 10 May 1945

near Talomo Bay, Davao. Did such a sinking actually take place, and if

so can anyone provide information regarding the name and details of

the US transport and Japanese MTB?

QUESTION 3/47 by Davis Welsh, Highworth, Swindon,

Wiltshire, UK.

The deck coverings of RN destroyers just prior to the outbreak of WW

II is usually described as being "corticene" with a "milk chocolate"

color. Reportedly, the Tribal-class ships were the first RN destroyers -

NOT- to use corticene, and all following classes followed this practice.

a) What color was the deck covering of the Tribal, "J" and "K" class

destroyers just prior to the outbreak of WW II on 1 September 1939?

b) What color was the so-called "steel deck" on these later ships?

Was it painted or unpainted, and if the former what color was used?

QUESTION 4/47 by John Pauly, Blasdell, NY, USA.

In the weeks before Operation AGREEMENT, the Italian Navy landed

men behind the British lines from destroyers or torpedo boats to

destroy their water pipelines.

a) What Italian vessels were involved in this operation?

b) How many men were landed?

c) What damage was accomplished?

d) Did any of the Italian "commandos" escape?

e) What unit or units did these "commandos" come from?

QUESTION 5/47 by Rick Karmon, Kingsland, Holy Head, Isle of

Anglesey, UK.

I have been researching the final fates of the WW II German "R" boats,

motor minsweepers / escort vessels and came across the following?

a) According to German Warships, Vol. II by Groner, R96 was

launched 14 March 1942, served in the Gm/SA and was taken as a

prize by the US in November 1947. She was later sold to Peglow

Kreutzer A.G. of Hamburg as a experimental ship for "electric" fishing.

On 30 June 1953, she was sold to the Fish Products Co. of Lewes,

Delaware for the same purpose. What is involved with "electric"

fishing, what was the final fate of this vessel, and does she possibly

still exist?

b) During the 1960s, a former "R" boat was used in Anglesey as a

range safety boat at a now closed missile test range. Could this boat

have been the former R160 which was transferred from Denmark to

the UK in 1948, and did she later become the dive boat Blue Falcom in

the early 1970s?

c) In the first issue of the now defunct magazine Boats and Planes

for sale, there was an advertisement for a former "R" boat whic may

have been the former R91, which was sold by the German Navy in

1970. Can this be confirmed, and what was the fate of this vessel?

QUESTION 6/47 by Thomas Sileo, Bergenfield, NJ, USA.

There have been many attempts to close enemy harbors / rivers by

sinking blockships in them. Examples of this practice include the

following:

• The sinking of both the collier Merrimac and the cruiser Reina

Mercedes to block the entrance to Santiago, Cuba during the Spanish-

American War of 1898.

• The sinking of Japanese block ships at the entrance to Port

Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

• The sinking of the collier Newbridge in a branch of the Rufiji

River in German East Africa to block in the cruiser Konigsberg during

WW I.

• The attempt to close up the German U-boat bases at Zeebrugge

and Ostend, Belgium during WW I.

None of the above attempts were successful. Can anyone provide a

definitive listing of both successful and unsuccessful attempts using

block ships between the years of 1880 and 1945?

QUESTION 7/47 by Miguel A. Cleries, Málaga, Spain.

On 16 July 2009, during a visit to Gibraltar, I observed from Europa

Point a new USN T-AKE crossing the strait to the Atlantic Ocean. Could

anybody inform me about the name of this T-AKE?

QUESTION 8/47 by Garry Heard, Mountainville, NJ, USA.

During the closing stages of WW II, the British Pacific Fleet (BPF)

carried out a number of shore bombardments against the Japanese

home islands. Can anyone provide a listing of these bombardments

and the damage that they inflicted?

QUESTION 9/47 by John Smith, via E-mail.

Various issues of Janes Fighting Ships list the Nationalist Chinese

(Taiwan) tanker Kuai Chi (AOG 306) as the former Soviet Tanker

Tuapse captured on either 20 October 1955 or in February 1956. What

were the details and correct date of this capture?

QUESTION 10/47 by Peter R. Virgadamo, Valencia, CA, USA.

There are conflicting accounts regarding the 21 November 1944,

sinking of the Japanese battleship Kongo. According to Morrison,

Sealion II (SS-315) sank her with one torpedo; while the website

www.combinedfleet.com says that she was hit by two torpedoes and

CDR Eli T. Reich, captain of Sealion II, claimed three hits in his war

patrol report.

a) Which of these accounts is correct" What does Senshi Sosho, the

Japanese naval history say about her sinking and what does the most

recent research indicate?

b) Where did the torpedo(es) strike her and how much damage did

they inflict?

c) What were the details of Kongo's final hours as she continued to

steam on after this attack?

d) How many of her crewmen were killed, how many survivors

were there and did her captain survive?

ANSWERS:

QUESTION 4/44 (W.I. no. 1 (2007): 15):

Projected Coast Defense Ships

by Harold Johnson, Deep River, CT, USA.

a) In 1898, Romania proposed an ambitious naval program calling

for the construction of both a coastal defense force and a Danube

River flotilla. The total cost of this program would have been on the

order of about £2,400,000 spread out over a period of five years

begining in 1899. The program called for six 3,500t armored coast

defense ships, four 300t destroyers and twelve 80t torpedo boats for

the Black Sea as well as eight 500t monitors, twelve 40t torpedo boats

and eight vedettes for the Danube River Flotilla.

None of these vessels were ever authorized and no concrete steps

were ever taken to build any of them. Accordingly, it would appear

unlikely that any detailed designs for any of these ships were ever

completed.

In 1906, a more realistic modified naval program was initiated with the

construction of eight small torpedo boats built by the Thames

Ironworks in England. The names and details of these ships were as

follows:

Capitan Nicolae Lascar Bogdan Capitan Romano Mihail

Capitan Vaslter Maracineau Lieutenant Demetre Calinescu

Major Constantine Ene Major Demetre Glurescu

Major Nicolae Ivan Major Glurge Sontzu

Displacement: 50 tons;

Dimensions: 100-ft x 13-ft x 2.75-ft;

Machinery: 600hp = 18-kts, coal =7 tons;

Armament: one x 3-pdr,

one x MG,

two x above water TT,

two x 14-in spar torpedoes

one x 20-in searchlight;

Complement: twenty men.

In 1907-1909, they were followed by four Danube river monitors built

by Stabilimento Tecnio. The names and details of these ships were as

follows:

Ion Bratianu Mihail Goclniceanu

Alexandru Lahovari Lascar Catargiu

Displacement: 110 tons;

Dimensions: 208.25-ft x 33.33-ft x 5.25-ft;

Machinery: 1,800hp = 13-kts, coal = 60 tons;

Armor: 3-in belt.

3-in deck,

2-in - 3-in turrets;

Armament: three x 4.7-in,

two x 3-pdr AA,

two x MG,

two x 14-in searchlights;

Complement: twenty men.

Sources: Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905 (Conway

Maritime Press, 1979), 378-379; Conway's All The World's Fighting

Ships 1906-1921 (Conway Maritime Press, 1985), 47, 349;W.I. no. 4

(1971): 426, 428, 442.

QUESTION 6/46 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 23):

20mm AA Armament of North Carolina (BB-55) WW II

by Chuck Paty, Charlotte, NC, USA.

I served aboard North Carolina from January 1942 through October

1945. Following the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, all of our 0.50 cal

Machine Guns and quad 1.1-in/75 AA guns were replaced. The 0.50s

were replaced with single barreled 20mms and the1.1-in/75s by

40mms. The arrangements and numbers of each were modified

several times during the war.

On 30 June 1945, eight (8) 20mm Mk 24-1 twin mounts were installed

replacing eight (8) single mounts. These were the first and only 20mm

twin mounts ever installed aboard North Carolina.

Source: Custody and record cards stored aboard the Battleship North

Carolina Memorial in Wilmington, NC.

QUESTION 7/46 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 24):

Japanese Type 93 24-in oxygen torpedoes

by David Dickson, Hernando, MS, USA.

a) Although Morison, and / or his staff, have been credited with

creating the name “Long Lance” for the Japanese Type 93 oxygen

torpedo, there is at least, one translated IJN document captured on

Kwajalein in which that specific term is used in describing the use of

the Type 93. The document is a Torpedo School Document entitled

Battle Lessons Learned in the Greater East Asia War (Torpedoes) vol.

6. The date of the original Japanese document is 5 November 1943. It

was translated and distributed in April 1944. The exact quote from the

document is as follows:

"Use of the type 93 torpedo. Under the present conditions we

are compelled to strike the initial blow with a long range torpedo

attack. . .It is extremely difficult to complete a mission

successfully without the 'long lance'. . ."

QUESTION 8/46 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 24):

Japanese WW II Armed Merchant Cruisers

by Marcus A. Hannig, via E-mail; Vernon J. Miller, Creedmoor, NC, USA;

Thomas Sileo, Bergenfield, NJ, USA.

During both the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 and the Russo-

Japanese War of 1904-05, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)

commissioned large numbers of passenger and cargo ships as armed

merchant cruisers (AMCs). During WW I, German raiders sank over

300,000 tons of Allied shipping. These success was not unnoticed by

the IJN. At the start of WW II, it requisitioned fourteen merchant ships

which were equipped and operated as AMCs armed with 5.9-in, 5.5-in

or 4.7-in guns. In addition, some of these ships also carried mines and

one or two seaplanes.

Unlike the Kriegsmarine's raider Atlantis, that stayed at sea 622 days

and sank or captured twenty three ships of 145,697-tons, most of the

Japanese AMCs had short and undistinguished careers. Although two

of them initially enjoyed some successes, the early sinking of Hokoku

Maru and the urgent need for more transports to support their far-

flung Pacific empire resulted in the reconversion to transports of most

AMCs. By the end of 1943, five of them had been sunk and seven had

been reconverted to transports. The remaining two were lost in 1944.

A listing of Japanese WW II AMCs is as follows:

Aikoku Maru - Gokoku Maru - Hokoku Maru

Displacement: 10,439grt;

Dimensions: 492-ft loa x 490-ft 10-in lpp x 66-ft 5-in x 26-ft;

Machinery: two shaft, two x Mitsubishi-B&W two-cycle diesels,

13,000bhp = 21-kts;

Armament: four x single mount 152mm,

two x 76mm/40 AA,

two x Type 93 13.2mm MGs,

four x 533mm torpedo tubes.

two Type 94 Kawanishi E7K2 Alf

floatplanes.

Miscl: one 1,100mm and one 900mm search lights,

special heavy-duty booms for

handling floatplanes.

Aikoku Maru was laid down on 29 December 1938, by the Tama

Shipbuilding (Tama Zosensho K. K), Tama for the Osaka Shosen K.K.,

Osaka as a high-capacity passenger-cargo ship for their South America

and around-the-world service. Launched 25 April 1940 and completed

31 August 1941; she was requisitioned by the IJN on 1 September

1941. Rated as an AMC on 5 September 1941, her conversion to an

AMC was completed on15 October 1941.

On 14 February 1942, the four x 152mm guns were removed and

replaced by eight x 140mm/50 guns. In March 1942, she was

converted to carry a supply of submarine torpedoes in one of her

holds. On 10 August 1942, at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore the

torpedo supply was increased to seventy for the replenishment of

submarines and two Type 96 dual 25mm AA mounts were fitted.

In September 1942, the dazzle camouflage scheme previously painted

at Kure was replaced by a new experimental design devised by LTCDR

Fukui. The new dazzle camouflage was painted in in three colours:

black, dark grey and light grey.

Rerated as a special (misc) transport on 1 October 1943; she arrived

at the Fourth Fleet anchorage, on the E side of Dublon Island, Truk

lagoon late on 16 February 1944. On 17 February, USN Task Force 58

launched Operation HAILSTONE - The Attack on Truk. .At dawn, aircraft

from Intrepid (CV-11) attacked Aikoku Maru . The first bomb hit the

officers’ wardroom galley and started a fire that spread rapidly. She

took three more bombs hits. During the next attack, at about 0830, a

Mk 13 aerial torpedo hit her No. 1 hold and detonated ordnance that

sheared off the entire foreward part of the ship. She sanks in position

07o 22' N x 151o 54' E, along with the attacking Grumman TBF

Avenger torpedo bomber. Most of the crew as well as 945 sailors,

passengers and troops of the First Brigade were lost. On 30 March

1944: she was removed from the Navy List.

****

Gokoku Maru was laid down on 31 July 1939 by the Tama Shipbuilding

Co., Tama as a passenger-cargo vessel for the Osaka Merchant Ship

Co. (Osaka Shosen KK Line), Osaka. Launched on 2 April 1942, she was

requisitioned by the IJN on 27 July 1942 and began conversion to an

AMC by the Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding on 10 August

1942 .Commissioned on 25 September 1942; she was rerated as

transport on 1 October 1943.

At 0245 on 10 November 1944, Barb (SS-220),LTCDR Eugene B.

Fluckey, picked up Gokoku Maru on her SJ radar and at 0334 fired

three Mk-18 electric torpedoes. The first hit aft of the funnel and the

second forward of the bridge destroying Gokoku Maru 's port engine

room. Her engines stoped, she lost all power and took on a 30o list to

port. As she headed very slowly towards shore, Barb fired another MK-

18, but it circled and missed. Seven miles off Koshiki Jima, E Kyushu.

Barb submerged, closed to 1,400 yards and at 0410, fired a final

torpedo which scored another hit. Gokoku Maru sank by the stern in

position 33o 31' N x 129o 10' E. The number of survivors is unknown,

but 326 crewmen and passengers were lost. On 10 January

1945,Gokoku Maru was removed from the Navy List.

****

Hokoku Maru was laid down on18 August 1938 at the Tama Zosensho

K. K. shipyard as a high-capacity passenger-cargo ship for the Osaka

Shosen K. K. Line's South America and around-the-world service.

Launched 5 July 1939 and completed 22 June 1940, she was

requisitioned by the IJN on 29 August 1941.

On 12 February 1942, she began a refit and armament moderization

at Kure. Her four 152mm guns installed the previous autumn were

removed and replaced by eight 3rd Year Type 140 mm/50 cal guns.

In March 1942, she was modified to carry a supply of torpedoes, spare

partss and stores for submarines, including 1,300 tons of diesel fuel.

In September 1942, at Singapore, the dazzle camouflage applied at

Kure was replaced by a new experimental design devised by LTCDR

Fukui. The new camouflage was painted in light and dark grey. Her

sister ship, Aikoku Maru, was similarly camouflaged in three colours:

black, dark grey and light grey.

She was sunk on 11 November 1942 550-nm SSW of Cocos Islands,

position 20o 00' S x 93o 00' E, by gunfire from minesweeper HIMS

Bengal and Dutch motor tanker Ondina (6,341brt, one x 102mm gun).

On 15 December 1942 she was removed from the Navy List.

Akagi Maru

Displacement: 7,398grt;

Dimensions: 462-ft 9-in lpp x 62-ft 4-in x 34-ft 6-in;

Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Sulzer eight cylinder,

two cycle diesel, 8,000bhp = 19-

kts;

Armament: four (or five - sources differ) x 5.9-in/50,

one x 76mm/40 AA,

two x 7.7mm MG,

two observation floatplanes.

Laid down 2 December 1935 by Mitsubishi, Nagasaki for the Japan Mail

Steamship Co. (Nippon Yusen Kaisha - NYK), Tokyo. She was launched

6 June 1936 and completed on 10 September 1936. Requisitioned by

the IJN on 23 November 1941, her conversion to an AMC was

completed on 30 December 1941 and she was officially rated as an

AMC on 1 January 1942. In February 1943, at: Yokosuka, sonar was

fitted and an additional Type 96 25mm machine gun was installed.

On 1 January 1944, she became the last Japanese surface ship to

arrive at Wake Island during the war when she disembarked about

1,000 troops and six Type 38 75mm guns.

At 0630 on 17 February 1944, during Operation HAILSTONE, the USN

attack on Truck lagoon by TF 58, she was attacked by five TBF

Avenger torpedo bombers from Bunker Hill (CV-17). At 0730, she was

attacked by aircraft from Yorktown (CV-10), Essex

(CV-9) and Cabot (CVL-28). A 500-lb bomb hit her forward hold No. 2

causing heavy damage. At 0910, during the third attack, she took a

direct hit by another 500-lb bomb in her No. 5 starboard hold. The

bomb ignited fuel in nearby tanks and started a large fire. At 0955,

she took another bomb hit in her No. 5 port hold. She then lost power

and was unable to navigate. The fire reached the ammunition

magazine and caused several large explosions. At 1030, Abandon Ship

was ordered. Most of the survivors were taken aboard the training

cruiser Katori (1939; 5890t; 18-kts; four x 5.5-in, two x 5-in AA, four x

25mm AA, four x 31-in TT, one aircraft) and were later lost with her. At

1047, a nearby warship scuttled her in position 07o 54' N x 151o 25' E

in the vicinity of the North Pass. At least 512 passengers and 788

sailors were lost. On 31 March 1944, she was removed from the Navy

List.

Asaka Maru - Awata Maru

Displacement: 7,398grt;

Dimensions: 478-ft loa x462-ft 9-in x 62-ft 4-in x 34-ft 6-in;

Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Sulzer seven cylinder,

two cycle diesel, 8,000bhp = 19-

kts, 14,30 tons fuel;

Armament: four x 140mm single mount guns,

one x twin Type 96 25mm AA gun,

one quad, one twin and four single Type 93

13.2mm machine guns,

three single 7.7mm machine guns,

two x 553mm torpedo tubes.

Asaka Maru was laid down on 18 February 1937 by Mitsubishi,

Nagasaki as a refrigerated cargo ship for the Japan Mail Steamship

Co., (Nippon Yusen Kaisha = NYK Line), Tokyo. She was launched on 7

July 1937 and completed on 30 November 1937. On 10 April 1940, she

was requisitioned by the IJN as an AMC but was returned to her owners

on 6 July 1940. On 24 December 1940, she was again requisitioned by

the IJN for use as a “Special Service Ship” to transport a group of

naval observers to Europe and return with a special 3.000-ton cargo of

munitions and supplies from Germany and Switzerland. Rerated as an

AMC in August 1941, she underwent conversion at Osaka Tekkosho

from 8 September to 16 October 1941.

On 27 November 1943 she began conversion from an AMC to a

transport. During this conversion, two 80mm AA and ten Type 96

25mm AA guns were fitted.

On 12 October 1944, she was sunk in the vicinity of Makung

(Pescadores Islands), position 23o 33' N x 119o 34 E, by USN aircraft

from TF 38 and removed from the Navy List on 10 January 1945.

****

Awata Maru was laid down on 2 March 1937 by Mitsubishi Heavy

Industries, Nagasaki as a passenger-cargo ship for the Japan Mail

Steamship Co. (Nippon Yusen Kaisha = NYK Line) Tokyo. She was

launched on 5 August 1937 and completed 23 December 1937. On 16

August 1941 she was requisitioned by the IJN and on 23 August 1941

began conversion to an AMC at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries'

shipyard and was officially rated as an AMC on 5 September 1941. In

October 1942, she was painted with a zigzag dazzle camouflage.

On 1 October 1943, she was demilitarized, rerated as a specially

installed transport and attached directly to the Combined Fleet. On 21

October 1943, SubRon 2, CAPT Charles B. Momsen, composed of Cero

(SS-225), Shad (SS-235) and Grayback(SS-208) was on patrol the East

China Sea W of Okinawa when they received an ULTRA message

alerting them that a convoy would pass through their patrol area. At

1627, Grayback, LTCDR John A. Moore, spoted the convoy, but lost it

at 1800 in the darkness. On 22 October 1943, off Keelung, Formosa,

Grayback made a long "end run" around the convoy. At 0327, she

submerged ahead of the convoy and at 0347 fired six torpedoes. Four

of them hit Awata Maru and one of them set off a magazine explosion.

Awata Maru sank N of Miyako-jima in position 26o 32' N x 125o 05' E.

The destroyers Maikaze and Nowaki rescued about 1,000 survivors out

of a total of 1,310 troops and crewmen. On 5 January 1944, Awata

Maru was removed from the Navy List:

Bankok Maru - Saigon Maru

Displacement: 5,350grt;

Dimensions: 376-ft 4-in lpp x 55-ft 9-in x 32-ft 9-in;

Machinery: one shaft, two x Mitsubishi-Sulzer eight cylinder,

two cycle diesel engines, hydraulic

gearbox, 18-kts;

Armament: four x 4.7-in/50,

one x 7.7mm MG,

500 mines.

Bankok Maru was laid down on 11 November 1936 by Mitsubishi;

Kobe for the Osaka Merchant Ship Co. (Osaka Shosen Kaisha - OSK),

Osaka. Launched on 30 March 1937 and completed on 20 September

1937, she was requisitioned by the IJN on 29 August 1941 and

converted to an AMC at Ujina Zosen. She was rerated as transport

1943.

At about 1500 on 20 May 1943, 4-nm SE of Jaluit Atoll, Marshall

Islands, Pollack

(SS-180), LTCDR Bafford E. Lewellen, scored three torpedo hits that

blew off her stern. She sank in position 05o 47' N x 169o 42' E, with

the loss of 496 troops and six crewmen. The survivors were rescued

by the destroyer Ikazuchi and landed on Jaluit where they remained

for the rest of the war. On 15 July 1943, Bankok Maru was removed

from the Navy List.

****

Saigon Maru was laid down on 9 December 1936 by Mitsubishi, Kobe

as a 5,351-ton cargo ship for the Osaka Merchant Ship Co., (Osaka

Shosen K. K. = O.S.K Line), Osaka. Launched on 28 April 1937 and

completed on 30 September 1937; she was requisitioned by the IJN on

21 August 1941 and converted to an AMC at Harima Zosen from 23

September to 14 October 1941. On 20 January 1944, she was

redesignated an auxiliary gunboat.

At 1048 on 18 September 1944, off Manila Bay, Philippine Islands she

was torpedoed and sunk by Flasher (SS-249), CDR Rueben T.

Whitaker, in position 14o 20' N x 120o 05'E. The destroyers Yuzuki and

Uzuki then rescued the survivors. On 10 November 1944, Saigon Maru

was removed from the Navy List.

Kinjosan Maru

Displacement: 3,260grt;

Dimensions: 201.5-ft loa x 193-ft lpp x 22.25-ft x 10.5-ft;

Armament: four x 4.7-in,

one x 7.7mm MG

400 mines.

Kinryu Maru

Displacement: 9,310grt;

Dimensions: 482-ft x 475-ft 7-in lpp x 62-ft 9-in x 26-ft;

Machinery: one shaft, one x Kawasaki-MAN eight cylinder, two

cycle Diesel/Electric, 9,200bhp = 18-kts;

Armament: four x 5.9-in/50 LA,

+ light AA;

Laid down 18 November 1937 by Kawasaki Shipbuilding, Kobe for

Kokusai K. K. K., Tokyo. She was launched on 16 June 1938 and

completed on 31 August 1938. Requisitioned by the IJN on 1

September 1938 she was rated as a general transport. Rerated as an

AMC in August 1941, she was converted at the Kure Iron Works from 5

September to 20 October 1941. On 14 July 1942, she was rerated as

an auxiliary transport.

On 25 August 1942, Kinryu Maru was in a convoy bring troops and

supplies to Guadalcanal. At 0600, 150 miles N of Guadalcanal, she was

attacked by six USMC Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bombers. She was

hit amidships by a 1,000-lb bomb and began to sink. Her embarked

troops were evacuated by the destroyers Mutsuki and Yayoi and the

patrol boats PB-1 and PB-2. Mutsuki was still evacuating troops when

she herself was hit by USAAF B-17 bombers. As she was being

abandoned, Mutsuki scuttled the burning Kinryu Maru with a torpedo

at position 07o 47' S x 160o 13' E. On 1 October 1942, Kinryu Maru

was removed from the Navy List.

Kiyosumi Maru

Displacement: 8,613grt;

Dimensions: 453-ft 9-in lpp x 62-ft 4-in x 34-ft;

Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Sulzer seven cylinder,

two cycle Diesel,7,600bhp = 18-

kts, 1,430t oil;

Armament: eight x 150mm (5.9-in) single mount guns,

two x 13.5mm machine guns,

two x 533mm (21-in) torpedo tubes .

one x Kawanishi E7K2 Alf reconnaissance floatplane.

Laid down on 30 May 1933 by Kawasaki, Kobe as a 6,991-ton

freighter-passenger ship for Kokusai K. K. K., Tokyo, she was launched

on 30 June 1934 and completed on 5 October1934. Requisitioned by

the IJN on 1 November 1941, she was commissioned as an AMC on 1

December 1941. On 1 October 1943, she was rerated a transport and

her 140mm guns were removed.

She was heavily damaged 1 January 1944 near the Bismarck

Archipelago, position 04o 35' N x 147o 15' E, by Balao (SS-285),

LTCDR Cryrus C. Cole. On 8 January 1944, Kiyosumi Maru arrived at

Truk under tow by Naka and Tanikaze and began repairs.

On 17 February 1944: Kiyosumi Maru was in the Repair Anchorage at

Truk when TF58 launched Operation HAILSTONE - The Attack on Truk.

At 0900, Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive-bombers from Yorktown (CV-

10) scored a direct hit on hold No. 2. At about 1330, SDBs from

Enterprise (CV-6) hit both sides of her bridge with bombs. Forty-three

crewmen were killed and Kiyosumi Maru was sunk, coming to rest on

her port side in of 120-ft of water. On 31 March 1944, she was

removed from the Navy List.

Kongo Maru

Displacement: 7,043grt;

Dimensions: 450-ft lpp x 61-ft x 27-ft 11-in;

Machinery: one shaft, one x Kawasaki-MAN eight cyllinder, two

cycle diesel, 7,600bhp = 18-kts, 1,430t

oil fuel;

Armament: four x 5.5-in/50,

+ light AA.

or

four x 4.7-in.

Laid down on 22 February 1934 by the Harima Shipbuilding and

Engineering Co. at Harima as a freighter with accommodations for

twelve passengers for the Kokusai K. K. K., Tokyo. She was launched

on 7 December 1934 and completed on 4 March 1935, she was

requisitioned by the IJN on 6 August 1941 and rated as AMC.

On 10 March 1942, during Operation “SR” – The Japanese Invasion of

Lae and Salamuana, New Guinea, she was sunk at Salamaua, New

Guinea, position 06o 49'S x 147o 02' E, by aircraft from Lexington (CV-

2) and Yorktown (CV-5). On 20 March 1942, she was removed from the

Navy List.

Noshiro Maru

Displacement: 7,184grt;

Dimensions: 449-ft 6-in lpp x 62-ft 6-in x 34-ft;

Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Sulzer seven cylinder,

two cycle diesel,6,700bhp = 18.5-

kts. 1,500t oil;

Armament: four x 5.9-in (Watts)

or

four x 5.5-in/50 LA,

+ light AA (Jentschura)

or

Four x 152mm/50 cal. single mount (6 x 1) guns,

one x 80mm AA gun,

two x 7.7mm single mount machine guns

two x observation float planes.

Laid down on 8 December 1932 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Nagasaki

for the Japan Mail Steamship Co., (Nippon Yusen Kaisen = NYK Line),

Tokyo; she was launched on 28 June 1934, and completed on 30

November 1934. Requisitioned by the IJN on 1 May 1941; she was

converted to aircraft tender from 25 June to10 July 1941. On 19

September 1941, she began reconversion to an auxiliary cruiser.

Rated as an AMC in April 1942, she was demilitarized and registered

as a specially installed transport ship on 5 August 1942.

She was slightly damaged 13 March 1943, 100 miles NW of the

Bismarck Archipelago (00o 10' S x 151o 06' E) by Grayback (SS-208),

LTCDR Edward C. Stephan and damaged again on 19 August 1944 NW

of Luzon, Philippine Islands, position 18o 10' N x 120o 00 E, by Rasher

(SS-269), LTCDR Henry G. Munson.

On 21 September 1944, TF 38 struck shipping in Manila and Subic

Bays. During the fourth attack that began at 1630, Noshiro Maru was

hit by bombs at three different times. The first bomb struck on her

starboard side near the bridge and caused major damage. The second

hit the starboard side of the bridge, passed through and exploded in

the radio room, wrecking it and starting a fire. A third bomb hit the

starboard side boat deck and passed through to the engine room

causing a fire. That night, the fire spread to her fuel bunkers and

reached her ammunition storage resulting in a large explosion. Three

soldiers and six crewmen were killed. By 1200 on 24 September 1944,

Noshiro Maru grounded 1.1 miles and 188o off the S Lighthouse,

Southern Breakwater, Manila Port, position 14o 35' N x 120o 55' E.

She was removed from the Navy List 10 November 1945.

Ukishima Maru

Displacement: 4,730grt;

Dimensions: 355-ft 4-in x 51-ft 6-in x 23-ft;

Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Burmeister &Wain eight

cylinder, two cycle diesel, 16.5-kts; 219t

oil fuel;

Armament: six x 4.7-in/45 LA,

one x 7.7mm MG.

Launched and completed in 1936 by Mitsui, Tama for the Osaka

Merchant Ship Co., Osaka, she was rated as AMC in April 1942 and was

severely damaged on 26 January 1943 at Palau, position 02o 37' N x

139o 42' E, by three torpedo hits from Wahoo

(SS-238). Repaired and employed as gunboat, she served as

repatriation transport in 1945. Her ultimate fate remains unknown.

Sources: Jentschura, Jung and Mickel, Warships of the Imperial

Japanese Navy 1869-1945, (Naval Institute Press, 1977), 234-236;

Watts, Japanese Warships of World War II, (Doubleday & Co., 1967),

318; Watts and Gordon, The Imperial Japanese Navy, (Doubleday &

Co., 1971), 495; www.combinedfleet.com; www.j-aircraft.org.

COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS:

QUESTION 38/94 (W.I. no. 1 (2007): 32):

USN Ammunition Dump Explosion

by Harold Johnson, Deep River, CT, USA.

During the interwar era, the British armed forces made a major effort

to relocate most of their ammunition storage magazines underground

in order to protect them from aerial bombing. The November 1944

explosion of 3,500 tons of high explosives in the Royal Air Force (RAF)

underground ammunition dump at Fauld, Derbyshire, killed eighty

people and left a crater which measured 900-ft x 600-ft x 100-ft deep.

An inquiry into the cause of the explosion, concluded that it might

have been caused by an attempt to remove the fuse from a 1,000-lb

bomb by using a hammer and cold chisel. It would appear that the

force of a hammer blow on the chisel could result in enough of a shock

to cause the fuse to detonate, which in turn would detonate the bomb

to which it was attached and then additional bombs in a chain

reaction. One is reminded of the adages that :

"High explosives are perfectly safe as long as one remembers

that they are dangerous"

and

"Familiarity breeds contempt".

Prior to this time, there had been remarkable few accidental

ammunition magazine explosions, and those which did occur were

generally quite small. In this case, the underground location may well

have magnified the effect of the explosion by confining it and

preventing it from venting into the atmosphere.

Sources: Warship 2007 (Anova Books, 2007), 201.

QUESTION 1/00 (W.I. no. 1 (2003): 10-11):

US Destroyers Sunk as Targets

by Fred Grulich, Virginia Beach, VA, USA.

The following destroyers should also be added to the list of those that

have been sunk as targets:

Ingersoll (DD-960) sunk as target 29 July 2003.

Spruance (DD-963) sunk as target 8 December 2006 by

aircraft launched "Harpoon" missiles 300 miles

off the Virginia coast.

David R. Ray (DD-971) sunk as target July / August 2008 in western

Pacific during SINKEX 2008

Merrill (DD-976) sunk as target 1 August 2003.

Leftwich (DD-984) sunk as target 1 August 2004.

John Young (DD-973) sunk as target 5 September 2003.

Hayler (DD-997) sunk as target 13 November 2004 by

gunfire off the North Carolina coast

along with Gosport (IX-517).

Briscoe (DD-977) sunk as target off Cherry Point, NC August

2005.

Comte de Grass (DD-974) sunk as target 7 June 2006.

Stump (DD-978) sunk as target 7 June 2006.

QUESTION 37/00 (W.I. No. 1, (2009): 38-41):

Effectiveness of Shipboard Anti-Aircraft Fire

by Anthony G Williams, via E-mail

I have a few comments:

• When first introduced, 0.50-in M2 Browning aircraft machine

guns had a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute (RPM), however by

the beginning of WW II, they had been modified to achieve an average

rate of c.800 rpm.

• The 75mm M4 cannon fitted to the B-25G was not a field gun,

but rather a minor modification of the M3 tank gun which was the

standard armament of most versions of the M4 Sherman medium

tank. The lighter T13E1 fitted to the B-25H was taken into service as

the M5. It was later also adopted by the Army for fitting to light tanks.

Incidentally, the effect of the recoil from firing four rounds in a typical

attack run was to slow the B-25 aircraft by 10-15 mph.

• More powerful 75mm guns were fitted to German and Japanese

aircraft.

• The gun fitted in the Piaggio P.108A was actually of 101.6mm (4-

in) caliber, not 105mm. A 105mm gun is, of course, carried by the

present-day AC-130 gunships.

• Additional information on wartime aircraft guns is contained in:

Flying Guns – World War 2: Development of Aircraft Guns, Ammunition

and Installations 1933-45, which I co-authored with Emmanuel Gustin.

QUESTION 46/02 (W.I. No. 1, (2009): 41-43):

New York Navy Yard Annex

By C.C. Wright, Ellicott City, MD, USA.

1944

Dock empty as of 13 January; Mitchell to follow.

Gen. William Mitchell (AP-

114)

USN (Prior to 19

January)

28 January

1944:

Commenced

flooding dock

1005 on 27

January, keel

blocks

covered 1020.

Flood valves

secured 1045

on 27 January

at 17-ft. water

depth.

Resumed

flooding at

1000 on 28

January.

Afloat 1045,

cleared dock

1317.

Arrived at Bayonne 15 January 1944 and commissioned there at 1100

on 19 January while in dry dock. Moored at 1348 to south wall,

Bayonne. Shifted to deperming pier 2-3 February, anchored

Gravesend Bay at 0815 on 3 February. Departed at 1120 on 5

February for Norfolk.

Dobler (DE-48)

[x2=w/DE-6]USN 5 February

1944: 1320

moved from

south wall,

Annex to

dock; 1645

water

removed from

dock.

10 February

1944: 1145

commenced

flooding dock;

1330 flooding

complete.

Availability completed at 24:00 on 14 February. Underway at 0830 on

15 February from annex for Gravesend Bay to receive ammunition.

Assigned to refresher training, departed at 1743 on 15 February for

Casco Bay, ME, with three other DEs. Departed Lynnhaven Roads at

0400 on 23 February as unit of TF 61 escorting Convoy UGS-34 en

route to North Africa.Wyffels (DE-6)

[x2=w/DE-48] USN 5 February

1944: 1420

caisson

emplaced;

1703 on

blocks

10 February

1944: 1230

afloat; 1500

moved out of

dock

Operating as part of TF 61, escorting Convoy GUS-27, arrived at New

York on 4 February 1944. Moored at 2250 at Bayonne Annex outboard

of Bainbridge (DD-246) for upkeep and repair. Underway at 1255 on 5

February for docking. Following overhaul, underway at 0835 on 15

February for Gravesend Bay to load ammunition and then later that

day departing for training in Casco Bay, Maine.

Dock empty as of 17 February; Marblehead and Benson to follow.Marblehead (CL-12)

[x2=w/DD-421]USN 20 February

1944: 1234

crossed dry

dock sill.

24 February:

1944: 1647

underway

from dock

Departed Bayonne at 1252 on 26 February and joined TF69 on 27

February as flagship, escort group for Convoy UT-9 en route to the UK.

Formed convoy at 1300 on 27 February.Benson (DD-421)

[x2=w/CL-12] USN 20 February

1944:

14:00 moored

in dock; 1800

keel resting

on blocks

25 February

1944: 0700

commenced

flooding dock;

1220 dry dock

flooded.

1310 towed

from dock.

Moored starboard side to south wall, Bayonne Annex at 1825 on 15

February. Underway at 1320 on 20 February to move into dock. Upon

departure from dock, moored alongside south wall, Bayonne Annex,

Berth 4. Navy yard availability ended at 2400 on 13 March. Ship

underway at 0823 on 14 March 1944 to Gravesend Bay to take on

ammunition. Underway 17 March from New York for Casco Bay for

refresher training.Frament (DE-677)

[x3=w/DE-675 & 676]USN 3 March

1944: 1150

crossed sill of

dock; 1549

resting on

blocks, with

Schmitt

alongside and

Weber

astern.

7 March 1944:

1320

commenced

flooding dock;

1400

waterborne;

1550

underway

under tow by

tugs while tied

up with

Schmitt

alongside.

Arrived New York 27 February, moored at 1659 at Berth 3, south wall,

Bayonne Annex, starboard side to Schmitt (DE-676). Moored at 1632

starboard side to Schmitt and Weber in Berth #3, Bayonne, following

undocking. Underway at 0645 on 9 March for Gravesend Bay and later

the same day shifted to Fort Pond Bay, Long Island, to commence

refresher training.

Schmitt (DE-676)[x3=w/DE-675 & 677] USN 3 March 1944 7 March 1944

Operating as unit of TG 21.7 from UK to USA, arriving at New York on

27 February 1944. Underway on morning of 9 Mar for Gravesend Bay

to load ammunition. Departed that afternoon in company with Scott

(DE-214) and Burke (DE-215) for training in the New London operating

area.Weber (DE-675)

[x3=w/DE-676 & 677] USN 3 March 1944 7 March 1944

DE-675 arrived at New York following duty as escort for Convoy UC-13

bound from Lough Foyle area to USA. Moored at 1740 alongside

Benson (DD-421) in berth 1, Bayonne Annex. Following refit, underway

at 0720 from berth 4, Bayonne Annex, on 9 March for Gravesend Bay

to take on ammunition. Shifted to Navy Yard, Brooklyn, on 10 March

for emergency repairs to boiler. Repairs completed at 0922 on 11

March and departed for refresher training with CortDiv 17.

Dock empty as of 9 March; Fogg, Foss, Gantner, and George W.

Ingram to follow.George W. Ingram (DE-62)[x4=w/DE-57, 59 & 60] USN 10 March

1944: 1116

entered dock

16 March

1944: 1045

taken in tow

by tug to

depart dock.

DE-62 arrived at New York 9 March as unit of TF60, escorting Convoy

TU-8 from the UK. Anchored at 2341 on 9 March in Gravesend Bay.

Underway 1000 on 10 March for Bayonne. Underway from Bayonne at

1147 on 21 March for Tompkinsville. Departed Tompkinsville at 0508

on 23 March and joined escort for Convoy UT-10.

Gantner (DE-60)[x4=w/DE-57, 59 & 62] USN 10 March

1944

16 March

1944: 1002

towed from

dock.

DE-60 arrived at New York 9 March 1944 as a unit of TF60, escorting

Convoy TU-8 to New York. TF60 commander in Nevada (BB-36).

Screen Div 29 and CortDiv 12, totaling four DD and eight DE. Shifted

mooring from Gravesend Bay to Bayonne on 10 March. Underway from

Bayonne on 21 March for Tompkinsville and departed on 22 March as

unit of TF68 escorting Convoy UT-10 bound for the UK.Foss (DE-59)[x4=w/DE-57, 60 & 62] USN 10 March

1944: 1210

alongside

Gantner

(DE-60) in

drydock; 1230

taking

services from

dock

16 March

1944:

0645 dock

being filled;

1015

underway

from dock to

south wall,

annex.

DE-59 underway at 1150 from south wall, Bayonne Annex for Navy

Section Base, Staten Island. Joined escort (TF 68) for Convoy UT-10 at

0940 on 23 March, bound for UK.Fogg (DE-57)[x4=w/DE-59, 60 & 62] USN 10 March

1944

16 March

1944

DE-57 anchored in Gravesend Bay 10 March, proceeded same day to

Bayonne Annex. Departed 21 March for Section Base, Staten Is. Joined

escort for Convoy UT-10 on 23 March.

Edison (DD-439) USN 19 March

1944: 1025

entered dock;

1330 Hill and

Blakely

entered dock

and moored

astern of

Edison; 1430

commenced

pumping out

dock; 1700

resting on

blocks

25 March

1944: 1315

commenced

flooding dock;

1655

underway

from dock

DD-439 arrived at 0915 on 18 March 1944 moored starboard side to

Berth 4, Bayonne Annex. Underway at 1015 on 19 March from berth

for docking. Moored at 1730 on 25 March starboard side to Berth 4,

Bayonne, after docking. J.R.Y. Blakely (DE-140) and Hill (DE-141)

moored alongside soon afterward. Underway at 0953 on 8 April for

anchorage in lower New York bay. Took aboard ammunition and

moved to New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, arriving south side 33rd St.

pier at 14:57 on 9 April. Departed at 0815 on 10 April for refresher

training in Casco Bay, Maine.

Camp (DE-251)(x4=w/DE-252, 253 & 254)

USN 27 March

1944

1 April 1944

Howard D. Crow (DE-252)(x4=w/DE-251, 253 & 254)

USN 27 March

1944: 1420

first line

secured in

dry dock

1 April 1944:

0803

commenced

flooding dock

Pettit (DE-253)(x4=w/DE-251, 252 & 254)

USN 27 March

1944: 1431

moored in dry

dock; 1515

commenced

pumping out

dock; 1836

keel on

blocks

1 April 1944:

dock flooded

to 14-ft; 0925

dock

completely

flooded

Ricketts (DE-254)(x4=w/DE-251, 252 & 253)

USN 27 March

1944: 1520

crossed sill;

1605 caisson

closed; 1610

started

pumping out

dock; 1820

keel on

blocks

1 April 1944:

1010 towed

out from dock;

1011 passed

sill

Four DEs arrived at New York following escort duty with Convoy UC-15

from the UK to the USA. DE-252 anchored 22 March in Gravesend Bay

to unload ammunition, moored same date at 1628 starboard side to

Pettit in Berth S-2, Bayonne. DE-253 cast off at 1407, moored with DE-

252 to move into drydock together. After undocking, DE-252 moored

at 1052 on 1 April starboard side to DE-253 at Berth S-4, Bayonne. DE-

252 underway at 0656 on 2 April for Gravesend Bay. DE-253 moored

in dock at north end, port side to DE-252; DE-251 and DE-254 moored

together when docked. After undocking, DE-253 moored at 1052

starboard side to Berth 4 with DE-252 to port. DE-253 underway 2

April for Gravesend Bay. After undocking, DE-254 moored at 1050

starboard side to port side of Edison and DE-251 in Berth 2, Bayonne.

DE-254 underway at 0803 for Gravesend Bay to load ammunition;

again underway at 1956 to depart New York.

Dock vacant as of 6 and 13 April

General George M. Randall

(AP-115)

USN In dock as of

15 April 1944

22 April 1944:

1115

commenced

flooding dock;

1443

departing

dock.

Moored at 1600 on 22 April to south wall, Bayonne. Underway at 1647

on 24 April for deperming pier, Bayonne. Unmoored from deperming

pier at 1319 on 25 April and anchored at 1401 in harbor.

Dock vacant as of 27 April

Queen Mary (“Request

362”)

UK In dock as of 4

May 1944

Projected 7

May

as of 4 May

UK request of 19 February foresaw yard availability at New York of 8-

16 April 1944.

Queen Elizabeth

(“Request 363”)

UK In dock as of

11, 18, and 25

May 1944

Projected 27

May as of 11

May; 26 May

as of 25 May

1944

UK request of 19 February foresaw yard availability at New York of 7-

26 May 1944.

George Washington USA In dock as of 1

June

Projected 5

June

as of 1 June

General M. C. Meigs

(AP-116)

USN 6 June 1944 10 June

AP-116 commissioned at 1430 on 3 June 1944 at Bayonne Annex,

while moored at Berth #4 for outfitting. At deperming station,

Bayonne, 13-14 June. Departed Bayonne at 0520 on 14 June for

Gravesend Bay. Departed New York at 0650 for Norfolk, conducting

structural test firing and 4-hour full power run en route.

Ile de France

(“Request 372”)

UK In dock as of

15 and 22

June

Projected 26

June as of 22

June

Harveson (DE-316)(x3=w/DE-135 & 149) USA 28 June 1944:

0924 in

drydock

1 July 1944:

1245

commenced

flooding dock;

1351

waterborne;

1550 all lines

let go.

DE-316 arrived at New York 27 June following assignment to TG21.5 as

escort for Convoy UC-26 from Londonderry to the USA. Arrived

Bayonne at 1239 on 27 June. Berthed at 1625 alongside Joyce

(DE-317) at Bayonne. Departed Bayonne at 0838 on 6 July for Block

Island Sound for training. Joined TG21.5 as escort for Convoy CU-31 on

10 July, departing for Londonderry.Chatelain (DE-149)

(x3=w/DE-135 & 316) USN In dock as of

29 June 1944

1 July 1944:

1245

commenced

flooding dock;

1355

waterborne;

1626 cleared

dry dock with

aid of tug

William E.

Westervelt

Moored starboard side to Berth 4, Bayonne Annex, at 1645 on 1 July.

Departed Sandy Hook on 4 July with CortDiv 4 for refresher training in

Casco Bay.Flaherty (DE-135)

(x3=w/DE-149 & 316) USN 28 June 1944:

0820 bow

crossed sill;

1225 secured

in dock

1 July 1944:

1250

commenced

flooding dock;

1448 flooding

completed

DE-135 moored 2235 alongside Chatelain at Berth S3, Bayonne.

Underway at 08:12 on 28 June for docking. After undocking, moored at

1646 starboard side to Chatelain at Berth S-3, Bayonne. Underway 4

July with other units of CortDiv 4: Pillsbury (DE-133), Pope

(DE-134), Neunzer (DE-150), and Chatelain, for training in Casco Bay.

Dock vacant as of 6 July.

Missouri (BB-63) USN 13 July 1944:

0912 bow

crossed sill

(water depth

in dock 42-ft.

3-in), 0932

moored in

dock; 1600

commenced

pumping dock

out; 1745

empty

24 July 1944:

1140 off

blocks; 1330

began moving

astern;

underway at

1344

Commenced flooding dock for departure at 1018 on 18 July, completed

at 1128 that day with 31-ft 3-in water depth in dock. Resumed

pumping out dock at 1130 on 24 July. After docking, anchored at 1438

in Gravesend Bay.

Returned to Bayonne Annex 28 September 1944, tied up at 1235 at

south wall in Berths SS2/3/4 for post-shakedown availability.

Completed 4 November and underway at 1353 on 5 November to

anchor in Gravesend Bay to take on fuel, ammunitions, and supplies.

General William H. Gordon (AP-117) was placed in commission at

Bayonne Berth 2 on 29 July 1944. She departed Bayonne on 9 August

to load ammunition and stood out for Hampton Roads the following

day. Unlike some other class units, this ship was not commissioned in

dry dock.

Dock vacant as of 27 July and 3 August

Mervine (DD-489)[x2=w/DD-490] USN 5 August

1944: 1144

passed over

dock sill; 1520

on keel blocks

9 August

1944: 1252

commenced

flooding dock;

1350

waterborne;

1550

commenced

leaving dock.

DD-489 at Bayonne Annex for yard availability from1855 on 3 August

through 2000 on 14 August. Moored at 1636 on 9 August alongside

Quick. Mervine and Quick in collision at 0110 on 15 August Mervine

repaired at New York NY, Brooklyn, through 21 August.Quick (DD-490)

[x2=w/DD-489] USN 5 August

1944: 1200

moved to

dock by tug.

9 August

1944: 1527

underway

under tow by

tugs.

DD-490 arrived New York as unit of TF68 escorting Convoy GUF-12.

Moored starboard side to Ray in Berth A, Bayonne Annex, at 1818 on 3

August. Moored starboard side to sock, Berth #2, Bayonne Annex, at

1557 on 9 August. Mervine moored outboard. Underway at 0845 on 14

August. Narrow escape from collision with Mervine on 14 August;

collision with Mervine at 0112 on 15 August. Repaired in DD #3, New

York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, 16 to 20 August 1944. Departed New York

21 August for Hampton Roads.

Dock vacant as of 10 AugustHill (DE-141)

(x4=w/DE-154, 155 & 763)

USN 17 August

1944: 1019

entered dock;

1024 moored

in dock,

alongside

Cates to

starboard

20 August

1944: 1230

commenced

flooding dock;

1600

underway to

depart dock

with Cates

still alongside

to starboard.

Operating with TG 22.6 (including escort carrier Wake Island) until

unit dissolved at 0625 on 15 August. Arrived Bayonne at 2242

starboard side to port side of Cates (DE-763) on 15 August at Berth 4,

Bayonne Annex. Moored at 1615 on 20 August with Cates at Berth 4,

Bayonne. Seaman 1c J.W. Wood USNR drowned when he fell off a

wooden scaffold on a float just above the stern of the ship when the

starboard propeller was turned over for a dock trial at 1135 on 23

August.

Sims (DE-154)(x4=w/DE-141, 155 &

763)

USN 17 August

1944: 0933

bow passed

dry dock sill,

0958 moored

in dock; 1500

dock dry

20 August

1944: 1645

moving out of

dock

Unit of TG 21.6, escorting convoy UC-27 from Londonderry to USA.

Moored 1839 on 4 July at Berth 3, Bayonne. Underway at 0806 for

docking. Sims’ log states this ship was moored to Hopping in dock and

that Hill and Reeves were moored astern in dock. After undocking,

moored at 1707 on 20 August starboard side to Griffin, Berth 3,

Bayonne. Underway 0758 on 23 August with other CortDiv 6 units.Hopping (DE-155)

(x4=w/DE-141, 154 & 763)

USN 17 August

1944: 0940

crossed dock

sill; 1230 on

blocks

20 August

1944: 1658

bow crossed

sill

Unit of TG 21.6, escort for convoy. Moored at 1153 (War Diary) or

1150 (log) on 14 August 1944 starboard side to Berth 3, Bayonne

Annex, outboard of Sims. Underway at 1015 (log) or 1017 (war diary)

on 23 August for Leonardo Pier, Sandy Hook (Earle), N.J., to take on

ammunition. Departed pier at 1449 for exercises with CortDiv 6

outside the harbor. Reeves (DE-156)

(not docked) USN Not docked Not docked

Reeves ship’s log does not mention drydocking on this occasion. Log

reports arrival at Berth S4, Bayonne, at 1130 on 14 August with Cates

mooring alongside at 1311. Log records underway on 23 August to

depart Bayonne. On the basis of this log entry, it is believed that

Sims’s log, which reported the four-ship docking, erred in specifying

Reeves rather than Cates as ship number four. New York Navy Yard

work report of 17 August also reports the four ships DE-141, DE-154,

DE-155, and DE-763 in dock No.7.Cates (DE-763)

(x4=w/DE-141, 154 & 156)

USN 17 August

1944: 1010

moved into

dry dock

20 August

1944: 1531

returned to

Berth 4,

Bayonne

DE-763 departed Berth 4, Bayonne, at 1000 on 23 August for Sandy

Hook Bay, receiving and discharging ammunition. Departed South

Boston Annex, Boston NYd, at 0545 on 28 August to join Convoy CU-37

bound for the UK.

Dock vacant as of 24 and 31 August

Brough (DE-148) USN 1 September

1944: 0925

entered dock,

draught 9-ft

forward and

9-ft 10-in aft.

Resting on

blocks 1245.

3 September

1944: 0816

commenced

flooding dock;

0930

waterborne;

1117

commenced

moving.

Engaged in transatlantic convoy escort operations. Unit of TG 28.1

escorting Convoy UC-34 as of 28 August. Anchored in Sandy Hook Bay

1251 on 28 August. At 1758 tied up alongside Baker (DE-198) at Berth

B4, Bayonne. Sturtevant (DE-239) moored to port at 1240 on 29

August. After undocking, moored at 1153 outboard of Knight

(DD-633) in Berth 1, Bayonne. Ricketts (DE-254) tied up outboard of

Brough on 5 September. Brough underway 6 September for NAD

Earle, New Jersey.

O’Reilly (DE-330) USN 3 September

1944: 1300

passed sill;

1540 on

blocks

6 September

1944: 1211

commenced

flooding dock;

1306

waterborne;

1514

underway

DE-330 at Bayonne Annex from 0822 on 2 September through 1027

on 13 September, subsequent to an assignment screening Merak

(AF-21) en route from Bermuda to New York. Moored on 2 September

starboard side to Sturtevant (DE-239). Underway under tow at 1250

on 3 September for docking. After undocking, moored at 15:29 to

starboard side of Howard D. Crow (DE-252). Underway 13 September

and transit to 36th St. Pier, Brooklyn. Resumed convoy escort duty on

20 September with Convoy CU-40.

Bennington (CV-20) USN 12 September

1944: 1315

moored at

dock; 1542

dock emptied

21 September

1944: 1235

departed

dock

CV-20 moored starboard side to Berths 5 and 6, Bayonne Annex, until

1417 when underway for Gravesend Bay anchorage. Camp

(DE-251), berthed at Bayonne during 5 to 16 September 1944, was

shifted to Brooklyn for docking beginning on 16 September 1944 (DD

#1).

Dock vacant as of 5 and 12 October.

Foss (DE-59)(x2=w/DE-70) USN 19 October

1944: 1325

entered dock;

1335 moored

in dock; 1400

commenced

pumping out

dock

24 October

1944: 1005

commenced

flooding dock;

1255

departed

dock

DE-59 operated as convoy escort to Convoy CU-39A from UK to USA,

departing 27 September 1944. Norfolk and Philadelphia sections

separated on 7 October. DE-59 arrived Gravesend Bay, New York, and

anchored at 1836 on 8 October. Moored at Navy Yard, Brooklyn, 9 to

16 October then steamed to Earle, New Jersey. Developed “excessive

vibration on the starboard screw” and diverted to Bayonne. Moored at

1631 starboard side to Blair (DE-147), Berth 3, Bayonne. Underway at

1315 on 19 October to enter dry dock. After undocking, moored at

Berth E3 alongside DE-70 and then underway again at 1443 for transit

to Naval Research Lab, Washington, D.C. Shifted berth to Washington

Navy Yard, Pier 4, on 28 October, where the ship remained until 30

November 1944.

Joseph E. Campbell

(DE-70) (x2=w/DE-59)

USN Not known 24 October

1944

DE-70 operated as a unit of the Chesapeake section of Convoy GUS-

52, arriving at Va. Capes 7 October 1944. Subsequently arrived at

Navy Yard Brooklyn at 1200 on 8 October for availability, completed

14 October. Called at Leonardo Pier, Sandy Hook, for ammunition on

14 October, departing at 1327. Hit a submerged object at 1337

between Berth 10, Earle Docks, Leonardo, NJ, and the 2nd and 3rd

buoys from north, necessitating return to Navy Yard for emergency

repairs. Arrived Bayonne 1627 on 14 October. Repairs complete,

departed Bayonne at 0929 on 27 October for New London, Ct.

Operated from New London in local training until arriving at Naval

Frontier Base Tompkinsville on 24 November for conversion to APD

(became APD-49).

Dock vacant as of 26 October. General W.P. Richardson to follow.

General W.P. Richardson

(AP-118)

USN (prior to 2

November

1944)

7 November

1944: 0500

commenced

flooding dock;

0913

commenced

moving ship

from dock.

AP-118 commissioned at 1430 while in dry dock, Bayonne. After

undocking, moored starboard side to Berth #3. Underway at 1845 for

Gravesend Bay to load ammunition. Underway at 0643 on 14

November for Norfolk.

Queen Mary

(“Request 381”)

UK In dock as of

23 November

1944

Due to

undock 26

November

1944

Bennington (CV-20) moored starboard side (Berth S1-2) to South Jetty,

Bayonne Annex, during 1630 on 16 November 1944 to 0924 on 13

December 1944 undergoing Post-Shakedown Availability. War Diary

does not indicate any docking during this time.

Dock vacant as of 30 November

Aquitania

(“Request 384”)

UK In dock as of 7

December

1944

Projected 12

December as

of 7

December

1944

Merak (AF-21) USN 15 December

1944: 1040

commenced

pumping out

dock; 1229

resting on keel

blocks.

18 December

1944: 1020

began

flooding

dock; 1209

moving

astern in

dock; 1220

clear of dock.

Unlike most or all other vessels docked here, Merak had called many

times at Bayonne, but at the Supply Depot piers. Merak arrived at the

Supply Depot, Bldg.35, on 11 December 1944 and shifted berth to the

dock on the 15th. Upon undocking, proceeded directly to Bermuda and

San Juan, P.R., before returning to NSD Bayonne, Bldg.35, on 29

December 1944.

Dock vacant as of 21 December

Bon Homme Richard

(CV-31)

USN 22 December

1944: 0908

moored in DD

No.7

3 January

1945: 1345

underway to

shift berths

from dry

dock

CV-31 departed New York Navy Yard at 1436 on 21 December 1944 to

moor at Anchorage 20B2A Upper Bay, New York, pending transfer to

Bayonne. Moored at Berths 1 and 2, Bayonne Annex, during 3 to 8

January. Departed at 1119 for Gravesend Bay to load ammunition.

To be continued

QUESTION 7/04 (W.I. no. 1 (2005): 24-25).

Austro-Hungarian ships sunk by Allied submarines

by Viktor Frampton, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

The Russian Morzh class Black Sea submarines of the 1911

Programme were developed from the earlier Baltic Akula of 1908.

Designed by Bubnov, and built by the Baltic Yard at Nickolayev, they

were single hulled boats with a maximum diving depth of 150-ft and a

diving time of 3.5 minutes. Their characteristics were as follows:

Displacement: 630 tons surfaced (Nerpa 645 tons),

760 tons submerged;

Dimensions: 220-ft x 15-ft x 13-ft;

Machinery: two shaft, two x diesel engines, 705bhp = 10.8-kts ,

2,500nm surfaced,

two x electric motors, 800 hp = 8-kts, 120nm

submerged;

Armament: one x 75mm Tylen,

one x 57mm,

one x 47mm Morzh and Nerpa

four x 18-in TT (two bow, two stern),

eight x Drzewiecki torpedo dropping collars;

Complement: forty seven men.

Their diesel engines, which had been ordered from Krupp in Germany,

were never delivered due to the outbreak of WW I in August 1914, and

had to be replaced with diesel engines removed from the gunboats of

the Amur River Flotilla. These engines never acheived their designed

bhp with the result that their designed 16-kt surface speed was never

acheived; while their poorly shaped hulls prevented them from

reaching their designed submerged speed of 12-kts.

Commissioned in 1914-15, they were the most active of the Russian

Black Sea submarines and are credited with the sinking of sixteen

merchant ships

Morzh was launched on 28 September 1913. She was lost in mid May

1917 off the Bosphoros to either mines or Turkish aircraft.

Tyulen was launched 1 Nov 1913,. Captured by the Germans at

Sevastopol, she was surrendered to the British in 1918. Transferred to

Wrangel's fleet in September 1919, she arrived at Bizerta, Tunisia in

1920 and was sold in 1924.

Nerpa was launched on 28 September 1913 and remained

inoperational at Nikolayev at the end of WW I. Recommissioned by the

Soviets on 3 June 1922 she was renamed Politruk in January 1923 and

stricken in 1931.

Sources: Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906 - 1921

(Conway Maritime Press, 1985), 315.

QUESTION 1/05 (W.I. no. 1 (2008): 35-36).

WW I Anti-flash Devices

by Jay Gibbs, Kingston, NY, USA.

Beginning with the 11-in/40 guns mounted on their last pre-

dreadnoughts of the Brauschweig and Deutschland classes, the

German Kriegsmarine, adopted Krupp type sliding wedge

breechblocks for all of their heavy naval guns. Such breechblocks

required the use of a brass or steel cartridge case, similar to those

used by small arms, to seal the rear of the breech from escaping

propellant gasses. These cartridge cases were slightly tapered toward

the muzzle end and upon firing expanded slightly so as to seal the

breech. In order to firmly seat these cases, the face of the breechblock

was angled so that as it moved across the breech face it pushed the

case completely into the chamber. When the breechblock was opened,

it activated extractors, again similar to those in small arms, to unseat

the cartridge case and eject it from the chamber.

The dimensions of these cartridge cases were quite large. Other

navies, most of which used interrupted screw type breechblocks*,

tended to restrict their powder bags to a maximum weight of about

100-lb for ease of handling in magazines and used multiple bags to

make up the required weight of the propellant charge. In contrast, the

Kriegsmarine used only two charges for even their heaviest guns. The

rearmost portion of the charge was contained in a heavy brass

cartridge case; while the forward part was enclosed by a thin zinc

case, rather than a silk bag. This case was consumed when the gun

was fired.

Although the magazine hits on the German battle cruisers at the

Dogger Bank and Jutland ignited the propellant stored there, due o

their being in cartridge cases the propellant charges only burned one

at a time and thus never generated enough gas at any one time to

destroy the ship.

* The Austro-Hungarian navy also used sliding wedge breechblocks for

their main battery naval guns; while the USN only adopted such

breechblocks for the 8-in/55 Mk-16 guns used in the Des Moines (CA-

134, 139, 140, 148) class heavy cruisers and the 6-in/47 Mk 16 guns

used in the Brooklyn (CL-40/50), Cleveland-Fargo (CL-55/67, 76/94,

99/118) and Worcester (CL-144/147) class light cruisers.

Sources: Friedman, Naval Firepower: Battleship Guns and Gunnery in

the Dreadnought Era (Naval Institute Press, 2007), 159, 283; Hodges,

The Big Gun: Battleship Main Armament 1860-1945 (Naval Institute

Press, 1981), 36; Silverstone, U.S. Warships of World War II

(Doubleday), 82, 85-99.

QUESTION 5/05 (W.I. no. 1 (2006): 22-23).

Fate of Argentine Submarine Santa Fe

by Viktor Frampton, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

On 30 Nov 1977, the Argentine Navy signed a contract with Thyssen

Nordseewerk of Emden, West Germany for the construction of two

type TR 1700 submarines as well as parts and assistance in the

construction of four additional ships at the Astillerosn Domecq Garcia

shipyard in Buenos Aires.

The original Argentine plans called for the construction of two TR 1700

and two somewhat smaller TR 1400 boats in Argentina; but in 1982

this was changed to six x TR 1700 boats in Argentina.

The two boats built in West Germany, Santa Cruz and San Juan, were

laid down on 6 December 1980 and 18 March 1982, launched on 28

September 1982 and 20 June 1983 and commissioned on 18 October

1984 and 19 November 1985 respectively. In February 1996, problems

developed with the Argentine built boats, when the first pair, Sante Fe

and Santiago del Estero were 52 and 30 percent completed

respectively. At that time the dockyard where they were being built

was sold and the incomplete portions of the two boats were

cannibalized for parts to keep the two West German built units in

operation. Parts and equipment delivered for the last two units, which

were never laid down, were also diverted for the same purpose.

Details of the two West German built boats are as follows:

Displacement: 2,116 tons surfaced, 2,264 tons submerged;

Dimensions: 216-ft 6-in x 24-ft x 21-ft 4-in;

Machinery: single shaft, four x MTU 16V652 MB81 diesel

engines,

6,705shp = 15-kts , 13,825nm @ 8-kts surfaced,

one x Siemens Type 1HR4525 + 1HR4525 four

circuit DC motor, 8,850hp = 26-kts, 29nm @; 20-kts,

460nm @ 6-kts submerged;

Armament: six x 21-in TT (all bow),

twenty two x German SST-4 or US MK-37 wire-guided

torpedoes or thirty four mines;

Complement: twenty nine men;

Diving Depth: 270m.

Both Santa Cruz and San Juan are based at Mar del Plata, the home of

the Argentine submarine force. Between September 1999 and 2001,

Santa Cruz recieved a mid-life update at a Brazilian shipyard and a

similar update is planned for San Juan at Porto Belgrano, Argentina

whenever the state of the Argentine economy makes this possible.

Sources: Chant, Submarine Warfare Today: the world's deadliest

underwater weapons systems (Summertime Publishing, 2006), 112-

113.

QUESTION 9/43 (W.I. no. 1 (2008): 38):

Namesakes and Sponsors of USN Guided Missile Destroyers

by Fred Grulich, Virginia Beach, VA, USA.

Gravely (DDG-107)

VADM Samuel Lee Gravely (1922-2004) the first African-American USN

officer to command a US warship, the Theodore E. Chandler (DD-717),

to command a major warship, the Jouett (DLG-29) and to achieve flag

rank.

Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108)

RADM Wayne E. Meyer, USN (Rtd), regarded as the key driving force

behind the development and deployment of the "Aegis" anti-ballistic

missile (ABM) system, was given the rare honor for any living USN

officer of having a warship named after him. This was coupled with the

delivery of the 100th Aegis Weapon system to the USN by Lockheed

Martin at Moorestown, NJ.

Jason Dunham (DDG-109)

CPL Jason L. Dunham USMC, the first Marine to be awarded the Medal

of Honor for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

William P. Lawrence (DDG 110)

VADM William Lawrence, who died in December 2005 at the age of 75,

had a career that ranged from the early days of jet aviation and the

space program to imprisonment in North Vietnam, followed by a major

command.

DDG-110, the first USN ship of this name, will be built at Northrop

Grumman Ship Systems’ Ingalls yard at Pascagoula, MS, and is to be

delivered in 2009.

Spruance (DDG -111)

ADM Raymond Spruance commanded the cruiser-destroyer group that

escorted VADM Halsey’s aircraft carriers during the Doolittle raid on

Japan in April 1942. In mid-1943, he was given command of the Fifth

Fleet and in early 1945, led it during the invasions of Iwo Jima and

Okinawa. Spruance retired in 1948, and died in December 1969 at the

age of 83. Shortly after his death, the Navy assigned his name to

Spruance (DD-963) that served for nearly thirty years before being

decommissioned in 2005.

Michael Murphy (DDG -112)

On 7 May 2008, Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced

that the name of the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile

destroyer would be Michael Murphy. The name honors LT Michael

Murphy, a Navy SEAL, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of

Honor for his heroic actions during Operation RED WING, in

Afghanistan on 28 June 2005.

QUESTION 10/43 (W.I. no. 1 (2008): 38):

The White Squadron in New London Bay

by Harold Johnson, Deep River, CT, USA.

If the ship in the foreground is one of the Arkansas class monitors,

which it most certainly appears to be, then the photograph in question

must have been taken sometime after 28 October 1902 when the first

of these ships was commissioned.

Built as a result of "panic legislation" introduced during the Spanish-

American War, the characteristics of these ships were as follows:

Displacement: 3,225 tons;

Dimensions: 255-ft loa x 252-ft lwl x 50-ft x 12.5-ft;

Machinery: two shaft VTE, 2,400hp = 11.5-kts;

Armor: 11 - 5-in belt, 10-in turret, 7.5-in conning

tower;

Armament: two x 12-in/40,

four x 4-in/50 QF,

three x 6-pdr QF,

four x 1-pdr Maxim-Nordenfeldt QF,

two x 6.5mm Colt machine guns;

Complement: thirteen officers and 135 enlisted men.

Arkansas (BM-7) built by Newport News Ship Building and Dry

Dock Co, Newport News, VA,

laid down 14 November 1899,

launched 10 November 1900,

commissioned 28 October 1902,

renamed Ozark 2 March 1909,

stricken 27 Feb 1918,

sold for scrap 26 January 1922;

Nevada (BM-8) built by Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME,

laid down 17 April 1899 as Connecticut,

launched 24 November 1900,

name changed to Nevada January 1901,

commissioned 5 March 1903,

renamed Tonopah March 1909,

sold for scrap 26 January 1922;

Florida (BM-9) built by Lewis Nixon, Elizabethport, NJ,

laid down 23 January 1899,

launched 30 November 1901,

commissioned 18 June 1903,

renamed Tallahasse 20 June 1908,

reclassified as IX-16 on 1 July 1921,

sold 25 July 1922;

Wyoming (BM-10) built by Union Iron Works, San Francisco,

CA,

laid down 11 April 1899,

launched 8 September 1900,

commissioned 8 December 1903,

renamed Cheyenne 1 January 1909,

reclassified as IX-4 on 1 July 1921,

Naval Reserve Training ship 1920-1926,

stricken 25 January 1937,

sold 20 April 1939.

Sources: Musgrove, U.S. Naval Ships Data (Vol. I) (Nautical Books,

2004), 174; Allen. "Arkansas Class Monitors" in Warship #30, (April

1984): 113-123.

QUESTION 3/44 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 44):

Strike dates of US Cruisers

by Vernon J. Miller, Creedmoor, NC, USA.

A Family Affair by LTCDR John Dickey II USN lists the sale date of Corry

(DD-334) as 18 October 1930 and her strike date as 22 October 1930.

LCDR Dickey believes that this sale date is in error and that it should

be 1931. He also mentions that no USN ship was ever sold before it

was stricken.

However, I believe that the submarine G-4 (SS-26) is the only instance

in which the sale date preceded the strike date and even that is a gray

area. G-4 was sold for scrapping on 15 April 1920, but her strike date

is listed as 13 August 1921. Possibly this was the result of an

administrative omission in posting an earlier date.

Question 4/45 (W. I. No. 1(2008): 15):

Spanish Merchant Ships Used by Germany During WW II

by Francesco De Domenico, Rome, Italy.

My previous answer included Spanish merchant ships over 500 tons

taken into German service. Further material however is to be found in

Gröner’s Vol 7, which lists all vessels under 500 tons.

All of these small vessels were purchased by the OKM/Adm.Qu.VI

(Oberkommando Marine) from Spanish shipowners through the

Sofindus (Sociedad Financiera Industrial, Madrid) for the previously

mentioned Transcomar shipping company (Commercial Maritima de

Transportes S.A., Madrid) to operate for the German military cargo

service under the Spanish flag and with Spanish crews. Starting in

May, 1941, ten smaller merchant vessels with coal-fired boilers sailed

from the Spanish Levante coast to Genoa and from there to the

Aegean Sea, there to be used mainly to transport supplies for the

German garrison in Crete. From 1 July 1943, as already mentioned,

the Spanish crews were released and the ships came under direct

German control, with German crews and new names.

All other efforts by the OKM to obtain Spanish tonnage only succeeded

to the extent of a temporary lease of a few ships used to carry

German non-military cargoes. To this end, in June 1942 shareholder

control was acquired over the CIA Naviera Bachi of Bilbao, owner of

the six medium- sized cargo ships (two of which were lost) mentioned

in my previous entry. In September 1942, shareholder control was also

obtained over the Pesquera Vizcaina S.A. of Bilbao, a fishing company

in the ownership of four small fishing vessels, namely the steam-

engine trawlers Trincher Alai (1932 / 119grt) and Trincher Eder (1932 /

119grt), and the diesel-engine trawlers Trincher Alde (1931 / 116grt)

and Trincherpe (1931 / 116grt).

The newly-formed fleet of the German-controlled Transcomar

Company was made up of the medium-sized cargo ship Sebastian,

mentioned in my previous answer; and ten smaller vessels in all,

among which four, Maria Amalia/Kertsch/Marguerite,

Rigel/Sewastopol/Reaumur, San Juan II/Feodosia/Suzanne and

Vicente/Taganrog/Violetta have been already described in my earlier

entry.

The six others were as follows:

• Adeje, 253grt, built in 1918 by Astilleros Ardanax F. de Beraza &

Co. at Bilbao as Aingeru Zar (1918 to 1925). Later name Pablo de

Azpitarte (1925 to 1941); in 1941 purchased by Transcomar as Adeje.

On 22 April 1941, came under the control of the Seetransportchef

Italien for the Crete resupply service. On 1 July1943 renamed

Nikolajew by the Germans, on 6 September 1943 again renamed

Alma. Sunk by a mine on 23 November 1943 near Naxos.

• Crespi, 338 or 344grt, completed on 15 February 1899 by R.

Thomson & Sons at Southwick/Sunderland as Fremington (Liverpool

and North Devon Line). Later names Faraman (1902 to 1929, Cie

Fraissinet), Caid Aziz (1929 to 1933, Union Marocaines), José Trujillo

(1933 to 1941, J. Trujillo Zafra, Spanish flag). In 1941 via Transcomar

she came under the Seetransportchef Italien. On 1 July1943 renamed

Simferopol under the German flag. Sunk on 25 July 1943 in Piraeus

Harbor after being hit by rockets on July 23 between Nikaria and

Mykonos. Raised on 31 July 1943 and later repaired. On 6 September

1944 renamed Celsius for the Seetransportstelle Samos. Scuttled on 9

October 1944 in Piraeus.

• Isis, 316grt, completed as Axpe by Mutiozabal & Fernandez at

Bilbao for the shipyard owner in September 1920. Later name Isora

(from 1922) for J. Pena Hernandez. During the Spanish Civil War she

was used as a prison ship in Tenerife. On 22 April 1941 via Transcomar

she came under the control of the Seetransportchef Italien for the

Crete service. On 1 July 1943 renamed Cherson under the German

flag, and on 6 September 1943 again as Isis. Sunk by torpedo or mine

near Navarino on 23 or 25.2.1944.

• Ellen, a yacht of 353 or 359grt, launched on 6 May 1905 by Day,

Summers & Co. at Northam/Southampton as Agatha. During WW I

served as a hired yacht with the Royal Navy (pennant no. 013) from

September 1914 to March 1919. Renamed Rover in the 1920’s and

later Elsie, later again Nere-a-Metza for the Marqués de Caviedes, San

Sebastian. Sunk by bombs at Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War,

later raised and repaired. In 1941 purchased by Transcomar as the

cargo ship Ellen. In April 1942 under the Seetransportchef Italien. On 5

June 1942 renamed Ostia under the German flag for the Unternehmen

Sonnenblume (Enterprise SUNFLOWER), the resupply of the Afrika

Korps, possibly as an escort vessel. Sunk by air attack on 1 November

1942, off Tobruk.

• San Isidro Labrador, 257 or 322grt, completed in February 1904

by R. Williamson & Son at Workington as Guanche under the Spanish

flag. Renamed Carmen in 1925 and San Sebastian in the late 1920’s.

Took the name San Isidro Labrador in the 1930’s. Served as prison

ship at Tenerife during the Spanish Civil War. To Transcomar in 1941

and on 22 April 1941 as a refrigerated cargo ship under the

Seetransportchef Italien. Sunk on 4 April 1943 by the submarine HMS

Parthian with torpedoes near Mericheas, Kythnos.

• San Eduardo, a very old cargo ship originally of 185grt, built in

1882 at El Ferrol (name unidentified). Rebuilt at 300grt in 1917 as

Hercules for the owner Tejero Perez & Gil. Renamed San Eduardo in

1931 for A.T. Vega. To Transcomar in 1941, under the

Seetransportchef Italien in April 1941. Sunk in an air attack on 9 May

1943 near Scrifos Island (four crewmen dead).

Therefore all the ten smaller Transcomar ships were war losses, either

under the Spanish (San Isidro Labrador, San Eduardo) or German flag

(all the others); as also a war loss was the Sebastian.

The OKM also undertook the construction in Spanish shipyards, on the

Transcomar account, of a number of small cargo ships.

Three steam vessels of 239grt and 300tdw were ordered, two of them

from the Ruiz de Velasco yard in Bilbao: Polar, a trawler launched on 8

July 1943, and Antares, a cargo ship launched on 20 August 1943 and

completed in 1944. The third vessel was named Rio Manzanares, built

1943, yard unidentified. There is no trace of these newly built vessels

operating with Transcomar, however, since they came into the scene

rather late into the war, after German control over the company had

lapsed.

Four more motor ships of 399grt and 490tdw were ordered for

Transcomar: Altair, built in 1942 by the Cantabrico Yard at Gjion for

Transcomar; Maribel (398grt), built in 1942 at the same yard for A.

Riva Suardiaz; Linette, built in 1942 at the same yard for Transcomar.

A fourth vessel, Canopus (392grt), was built in 1944 for Transcomar by

the Union Levante at Valencia. None of these Transcomar vessels

served under German military control or outside Spanish waters,

either.

Five other orders of 399-tonners were also earmarked, as were those

for twenty motor sailers. However none of these vessels is reported to

have ever sailed under German military control.

Sources: Gröner, Jung, Maass, Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945

Vol.7 (Bernard & Graefe Verlag, 1990); www.miramarshipindex.org.nz

QUESTION 6/45 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 33-35):

Warships armed with Pneumatic Dynamite guns

by P.C. Jumonville, Chicago, IL, USA.

Holland V, John P. Holland's last speculative, privately funded venture

was finally accepted by the USN as the USS Holland at a financial loss

to his firm despite mandated modifications. Utilized primarily for

training and experimental duties, Holland was variously designated as

"SS-1" or "Torpedo Boat #1" even though the torpedo boat Cushing of

1890 also carried the latter designation and remained in service until

1910, the same year that Holland was stricken.

The designation "VI" reflects the sixth in a series of Holland's attempts

to develop a practical submarine, initially on behalf of the Irish Fenian

Brotherhood and later for the USN. As built, Holland VI carried two

pneumatic "dynamite" guns, one in the bow and one in the stern; but

the later was removed upon her alteration to the Holland configuration

which also included relocating the rudders aft of the propeller instead

of forward of it. Holland also carried a slightly down angled 18-in

torpedo tube for 836-lb Whitehead torpedoes. Three of these

torpedoes were carried, one in the tube plus two reloads. Produced

under license by the E. W. Bliss Co. of Brooklyn, NY, these torpedoes

carried a bursting charge of 118-lbs of wet "guncotton"

(nitrocellulose), and had a range of 800 to 1,000-yds at a speed of 26

to 26.5-kts. The simplicity of being able to use compressed air for

blowing her ballast tanks and for launching both her torpedo tube and

Zalinski gun(s) is worth noting. A single 45-50SHP Otto gasoline engine

had to serve as the prime mover for the propeller, dynamo and air

compressor.

Following much grief with the steam engine forced on him by the USN

for high surface speed in his Plunger / Holland V, Holland returned to

internal combustion engines. According to his associate Frank Cable,

Holland witnessed the demonstration of a static Otto gasoline-engine

driven dynamo set at a Philadelphia exposition and immediately

bought such a set for the Holland VI.

The pneumatic gun in Holland was positioned just above her single

torpedo tube at a fixed elevation of 15o. It had an 8.425-in diameter

bore and fired a 220-lb projectile armed with either a 50 or 80-lb

charge of guncotton to a range of 1,000-yds above water or 30-yds

underwater. As was the case with Vesuvius, the range could be

increased slightly by using her trim tanks to give her a slight bow up

orientation thus increasing the effective elevation of the gun. The

firing charge was 50-pounds in2 (psi) of air pressure following the

release of 10psi through the reducing valve to clear the tube for

loading. The contents of the compressed air reservoir were

pressurized at about 2,000psi thus allowing for a number of either

torpedo or gun shots before the air compressor would have to be run

to recharge the reservoir. In addition to the three Bliss-Whitehead

torpedoes, six Zalinski gun projectiles were also carried.

Holland's predecessor, the steam prime mover cursed Holland V which

also carried the name Plunger, was not built with pneumatic

"dynamite" guns and neither was her successor, Plunger (SS-2).

At least one significant technical problem remains unresolved. The

Scientific American plan of Holland VI shows a much longer missile in

her aft gun tube than in its forward counterpart, which also bears the

qualifier "aerial" on its label. Something lacking for that of its

"dynamite torpedo" at the vessel's stern that also seems to show a

possibly adjustable rudder-like device, not present on the "aerial

torpedo" in the forward tube. I believe that this item really represents

the breech mechanism for the after tube. Neither projectile appears to

be fitted with propellers, although these components ARE shown for

the Whitehead torpedoes. It is as if both projectiles were entirely

dependent on the initial compressed air impulse given to them at

launch for their propulsion. In addition, the stern tube is pitched at a

much lower angle of elevation than that of the forward tube. So what

exactly was the difference between "aerial" and "dynamite" torpedoes

or between "dynamite" and Whitehead torpedoes?

Sources: Morris, John P. Holland: Inventor of the Modern Submarine,

(Naval Institute Press, 1968), 181-182.